Summary
Stardew Valleyplayers frequently discuss themost effective methods for making moneyin the game, whether through farming, mining, or foraging. However, what many guides and tips forStardew Valleytend to overlook is how to properly spend the money once it has been earned.
Although the game offers hints and instructions on priority purchases, many players remain confused about when to make purchases and which items hold greater long-term value. This list outlines the most effective ways to spend gold, providing example scenarios and detailing the potential positive profits that can be made from each option.
1Farm Buildings And Animals
Always Profitable After Enough Time
Investing in farm buildings and animalsinStardew Valleyis a great way to generate gold, withPigs being especially lucrative. The Deluxe Barn costs 43,000g, 1,350Wood, and 650Stone. Purchasing 12 pigs for 192,000g brings the total investment to 235,000g.
Once level 10 Foraging is unlocked and the Gatherer/Botanist profession is chosen, pigs begin producing IridiumTruffle, worth 1,250g each. With 12 pigs, 36 Truffles can be harvested daily, generating 45,000g per day or 270,000g every 6 days, making this a highly profitable investment.
2Resources From Robin
Helps To Build Profitable Machines
PurchasingWoodfromRobin’s shop can be a smart investment forcrafting valuable machineslike theCheese Press,Cask, andKeg. A Cask requires 20 Wood, and Wood costs 50g each in year 2, totaling 1,000g per cask. Crafting 5 Casks will cost 5,000g.
When used for aging StarfruitWineto Iridium Quality, each unit sells for 6,300g per bottle with the Artisan profession. With 5 Casks, this results in 31,500g, turning a 5,000g investment into a significant profit, provided the wine is already made.
3Upgrading The Farmhouse
Unlocks The Cellar To Produce Aged Goods
Upgrading the farmhouse offers valuable benefits, especially with the addition of a cellar. The first upgrade, costing 10,000g,unlocks the kitchen, while the second, priced at 65,000g, unlocks a room for children. The final upgrade costs 100,000g, unlocking the cellar. This brings the total investment to 175,000g. The cellar includes 33Caskfor aging.
As mentioned previously, Iridium-agedStarfruitWine sells for 6,300g per bottle with the Artisan profession. A full production of Starfruit Wine from the cellar can yield 207,900g, making the investment profitable within just 56 days.
4Seeds
The Most Accessible Way To Make Money
InStardew Valley, purchasing seeds and growing crops is one of the best ways to make money while also progressing through the game. Completing quests and donating crops to the Community Center rewards players with valuable items that can help them earn back the gold invested in growing crops.
However, simply growing and selling crops is also a valuable and profitable investment. For example,Starfruit Seeds, which cost 200g each and take 13 days to grow, are a great crop option for profit. To fill the 24 tiles provided by anIridium Sprinkler, players would need 4,800g worth of Starfruit Seeds. Once grown, providing the player has the Tiller profession, each Starfruit sells at a base value of 825g, yielding a total of 19,800g from one full harvest. Even without the Tiller profession, the return is still solid at 18,000g. Investing in seeds like Starfruit not only helps progress through quests and Community Center donations but also provides significant gold returns.
5Obelisks
Allow For Fast Travel Around Stardew Valley
Obelisks are a significant investment, costing a total of 3,000,000g, but they provide great convenience by allowing instant travel to key locations. The Earth Obelisk, which transports players to the Mountains, costs 500,000g, 10Iridium Bars, and 10Earth Crystal. The Water Obelisk, which leads to the Beach, requires 500,000g, 5 Iridium Bars, 10Clam, and 10Coral. The Desert Obelisk, taking players to the Desert, costs 1,000,000g, 20 Iridium Bars, 10Coconut, and 10Cactus Fruit. The Island Obelisk, providing access to Ginger Island, costs 1,000,000g, 10 Iridium Bars, 10Dragon Tooth, and 10Banana.
While these obelisks are more about convenience than profit, there are some savings. The Desert Obelisk saves 500g per bus trip, and the Island Obelisk saves 1,000g per trip. However, to make the money back on these investments, it would take around 2,000 visits to the Desert or 1,000 visits to Ginger Island, just considering the base travel cost. This doesn’t factor inthe valuable resources picked up during these trips, making the obelisks a time-saving tool worth considering for frequent travelers.
6The Traveling Cart
Stocks Out-Of-Season Items
Throughout the game, the Traveling Cart offers exclusive and out-of-season items that can’t be found elsewhere in the game every Friday and Sunday. One of the most valuable items she sells is theRare Seed, which can only be bought here.
Additionally, the Traveling Cart provides a way to obtainRed Cabbagebefore year 2, which can be crucial for players aiming tocomplete the Community Center in the first yearif the menu option is toggled. While her inventory changes each visit, the Traveling Merchant is an important resource for acquiring rare items and completing specific tasks early.
7Festivals
House Exclusive Items That Are Necessary For Perfection
Festivals are an important part of completing the Perfection achievement inStardew Valley. To do so, players need to collect all eight Rarecrows, some of which can only be purchased at festivals like the Feast of the Winter Star, Stardew Valley Fair, and Spirits' Eve Festival.
Moreover, the Egg Festival offersStrawberry Seeds, which are exclusive to that event. These seeds are highly profitable and useful, as strawberries yield large returns when grown during the Spring. Festivals provide not only fun and engagement but also valuable items that help with both Perfection and profit.
8Town Shortcuts
Creates Quicker Journeys Around The Valley
InStardew Valley, town shortcuts are a late-game purchase that greatly improves mobility across the map. Costing 300,000g, these shortcuts become available after completingPam’s house upgrade, which requires 500,000g and 950 wood.
Once the upgrade is done, players can unlock five valuable shortcuts: from Cindersap Forestto the Beach, Mountains to Town, Town to the Beach, Bus Stop to the Backwoods, and Mountains Island to the Adventurer’s Guild. These shortcuts save time and streamline travel, making them a great investment for later in the game.
